Six-years-old Charles Edwards died this date, September 27th, in 1847 and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground

Charles Edwards, 6 years old, died this date, September 27th, in 1847 of Scrofulous Marasmus (malnutrition) and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground. Charles lived with his parents and sibling near at the intersection of Union Street and School Avenue near 2nd and Spruce Streets in Philadelphia. Charles’ father, Peter, was a day labourer, possibly on the nearby wharves and warehouses. Six-year-old Charles lived with a sibling and his parents in a 9ft. x 9ft. room for which they paid a weekly rent of $0.62 according to the 1847 African American Census.

For more details on the disease that killed Charles please go to http://www.tenement.org/encyclopedia/diseases_marasmus.htm.